known as doma the 1996 federal law defines marriage as between a man and a woman and allows the government to deny federal assistance such at social security survivor benefits to same sex couples even if they're legally married. several lower courts have struck down the law as a violation of the constitution's equal protection clause but thomas peters of the national organization for marriage says there's no right to same sex marriage in the institution. >> the federal government and our elected officials through congress have a responsibility and right to protect marriage as a union of one man and one woman. we hope the supreme court will follow the precedent and respect the wishes of the representatives of the officials in congress. >> they did not say which of the ten same sex marriage cases on its docket it plans to take up. that news could come as early osmond. but whichever cases it chooses legal experts say this supreme court term is likely to have a profound influence on the future of same sex marriage. chip reed, cbs news the supreme court. >> a federal judge is considering whethe